No. 19-1231October Term 2019Decided Apr 1, 2021Updated May 24, 2026
FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project
This case was about the FCC’s decision to repeal or loosen several long-standing media ownership rules that limited common ownership of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in the same market.
Case status
Decided 9-0 · April 1, 2021
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 1, 2021
- What it's about
This case was about the FCC’s decision to repeal or loosen several long-standing media ownership rules that limited common ownership of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in the same market. The dispute was whether the FCC reasonably concluded that changing those rules fit current market conditions and would not likely harm minority and female ownership.
Question presented
Whether the court of appeals erred in vacating as arbitrary and capricious the FCC orders under review, which, among other things, relaxed the agency's cross-ownership restrictions to accommodate changed market conditions.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Decision released Apr 1, 2021
- Area
Administrative Law
Timing
Decided April 1, 2021
The Court released its decision on April 1, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 24, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Apr 1, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Apr 17, 2020 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology